UK Politics

By neglecting the early years we risk having to spend more playing catch-up late

The coalition's cuts to early years education are storing up problems for the future

By Imogen Parker - 02 July 16:32

By neglecting the early years we risk having to spend more playing catch-up later on.

1 Comment

The electoral system, UKIP and the Lib Dem incumbency bonus.

Why the odds are still on a Labour victory in 2015

By George Eaton - 02 July 14:29

The electoral system, UKIP and the strength of the Labour brand all mean that the party is still likely to be the largest after the next election even after a fall in support.

14 Comments

How Labour can come to the rescue of Sure Start

By Michael Pavey - 02 July 12:07

The revolutionary power of early intervention is now comprehensively proven. Labour needs to put Sure Start at the heart of its plans to enthuse a weary electorate.

0 Comments

The 200+ new MPs elected at the 2010 election together in Westminster Hall.

Never mind a pay rise, let’s stop paying our MPs to fail

By Alex Andreou - 02 July 9:52

We wouldn’t mind what MPs’ salary was if they were making the UK a demonstrably better place. Alex Andreou makes the case for performance-related pay in Westminster.

13 Comments

Make MPs less "moaty": we want professionals in Parliament, not wealthy hobbyists

By Eleanor Margolis - 02 July 9:37

It’s understandable that in this febrile, post-expenses atmosphere, MPs have come over all bashful and money-shy. But we want a political profession that's open to everyone, no matter what their means - not just the wealthy who fancy a nice office in central London.

14 Comments

What about parents with children at different schools?

The problem with allowing schools to set their own term dates

By George Eaton - 02 July 8:46

What about parents with children at different schools? Gove and Twigg should recognise the need for local co-ordination.

8 Comments

Both pro-EU, both queasy about a referendum. Who will jump first?

Clegg is propping up Miliband's EU policy

By Rafael Behr - 01 July 16:13

Both pro-EU, both queasy about a referendum. Who will jump first?

5 Comments

Clegg's argument that any spare money should be used to support all.

Why a married couples' tax allowance could be deadly for the Tories

By George Eaton - 01 July 15:39

Clegg's argument that any spare money should be used to support "all working families" is a powerful dividing line with the Conservatives.

2 Comments

Cameron hasn't held one since July 2011.

What happened to Cameron's monthly press conferences?

By George Eaton - 01 July 12:23

Nick Clegg started a new monthly press conference today but Cameron hasn't held one since July 2011.

5 Comments

Institutional reforms can reduce the extent to which short-term tactics

After Osborne's spin, it's time to bring parliament and the public into the spending process

By Andrew Harrop - 01 July 10:22

Institutional reforms can reduce the extent to which short-term tactics trump long-term thinking.

3 Comments

Will MPs reclaim the power to vote against a pay rise?

By George Eaton - 01 July 9:00

Parliament's decision to give up the right to set MPs' pay looks unwise as IPSA prepares to recommend an increase of £10,000.

8 Comments

How much does "health tourism" actually cost the NHS?

By George Eaton - 30 June 12:45

Jeremy Hunt promises to end the "costly abuse" of the health service by foreigners, but just £12m or 0.01 per cent of the NHS budget was lost in 2011-12.

18 Comments

Both before and after the next election, Farage's party is likely to remain.

Danny Alexander says "UKIP will come and UKIP will go", he shouldn't be so sure

By George Eaton - 30 June 11:01

Both before and after the next election, Farage's party is likely to remain a significant presence.

40 Comments

The full text of the shadow business secretary's speech.

Chuka Umunna's speech on a better capitalism: full text

By Chuka Umunna - 29 June 11:40

"The global economy is changing – but that doesn’t mean we’re powerless to shape our destiny."

1 Comment

A member of the PCS union wears a George Osborne face mask.

How Osborne's shares for rights scheme has flopped

By George Eaton - 29 June 10:46

Only six companies have enquired about the Chancellor's plan to allow workers to give up employment rights in return for shares.

8 Comments

Joseph Rowntree. Photograph: Getty Images

The case for increasing wages to cut the welfare bill

By Katie Schmuecker - 28 June 16:24

Learning from Joseph and the Chocolate Factory.

2 Comments

Ed Miliband with his former advisers Katie Myler and Polly Billington. Getty

If Ed Miliband wants more women in public life, he can start with his own team

By Helen Lewis - 28 June 15:22

The Labour leader presides over an admirably mixed frontbench - but things aren't so rosy in the policy-making back rooms.

11 Comments

Osborne's new welfare measures are anything but fair

By Alison Garnham - 27 June 16:17

Regardless of the actual levels of need, the poor will lose out under the Chancellor's cap.

15 Comments

Squeezing disproportionate amounts of public spending out of the regions.

The Spending Review will widen the north-south divide

By Ed Cox - 27 June 15:31

Squeezing disproportionate amounts of public spending out of the regions will leave the country fiscally unbalanced and with regional disparities on the scale of most developing nations.

10 Comments